Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms by Mark Whiteway Page A

and we are millions. So others
like me have concentrated on trying to ensure the long term
survival of our race. To that end, we contacted the Chandara, who
agreed to help us. We chose them because they are long lived and
because they communicate memory by chemical means, which is more
permanent than any oral or written form. We then launched a series
of devices like this one, so that they could be recovered by the
Chandara at different points in our future, and we could discover
what would become of our people.
    “We learned that
there would be a few survivors, who would start to rebuild.
Eventually, through a boy named Kal, they would even re-discover
the rudiments of lodestone technology. However, from the last
device we were able to send, the one in your time, we found out
that Unan-Chinneroth, the one you call ‘The Prophet,’ had taken
control.
    “The Unan-Chinneroth
is not of your world, Keris. Tell me, do you know the meaning of
the name Unan-Chinneroth?”
    “No, very few people know the
ancient tongue.”
    “It means, ‘without a
tail.’ He is not Kelanni. His skin is white and his blood is
red.
    “His people arrived
on the other side of your world and tried to take it over, but they
were defeated. So one of them decided to build a device which would
give his people absolute power. That device works through lodestone
technology. However, in order to complete it, he needed to refine
large amounts of lodestone. So he used his ship to travel to your
side and proclaimed himself, ‘Prophet.’ Then he began to enslave
the Kelanni there to produce the lodestone and build the
weapon.”
    “Where is this
weapon?”
    “It was being built
at the processing facility you know as Persillan. Eleven turns ago,
there was a revolt at Persillan. The revolt was put down by the
premature detonation of a prototype device, which destroyed the
rebel force. The apparatus was then moved by ship to the other side
of your world. It is being assembled on an island there, although I
do not know its exact location.
    “The Prophet
intends to destroy the Kelanni and claim the world for his own
people. You must neutralize the weapon. There is only one safe way
to do this, and that is with the use of a special instrument. I do
not have time now to explain to you how it works, but we have
concealed it at a secret location in our time. It lies on the other
side of your world. To gain access you will need a special key. I
cannot tell you more, except to say that this key is designed so
that it cannot be misappropriated or forged .
    You must take Boxx
with you. It is the key. And you must find other Kelanni who are
willing to help you defeat the Prophet. The process requires
four–four who can pass the test.”
    The only people
I know like that , thought Keris, are the ones that are walking into a trap at
Gort. Somehow, I have to get there first.
    “You must
traverse your world and cross the Great Barrier of Storms to the
other side,” Annata
continued.
    “You mean across the Aronak Sea?”
Keris exclaimed. “That is impossible; no-one can survive the
storms.”
    “There is a
way.” The hologram rippled, and then
stabilised once again. “ On your side of
Kelanni there are two towers. Those towers contain vacuum hole
displacement teleporters–machines that can be used to transport you
instantly to the other side. You must travel to one of these
towers. I will then tell you how to operate it.
    “The Prophet must not
discover what you are doing, or all will be lost. Nor must he learn
of the Chandaras’ involvement. They are taking an enormous risk by
helping us. We owe them a great debt.
    “When you reach the
other side, I will explain more about the key. If anything goes
wrong, seek out the Chandara on that side and they will aid you.
They can also direct you to where the instrument that you will need
to use to disarm the weapon lies. However, there is one thing you
must know. The instrument itself is very dangerous. You must